This Rainbow Wasp Nest Was Built With Colored Paper

Though you probably don't want to see one in your house, wasps’ nests are impressive works of nature. Paper wasps construct their nests by chewing wood into a pulpy substance and using their saliva to hold it all together. In order to make these structures appear even more extraordinary, biological science student Mattia Menchetti experimented with providing colored paper to a colony of European paper wasps.

He started by feeding his captive wasps yellow paper, and then gradually began introducing more shades. The insects soon created a technicolor home for their larvae. In addition to making for some unusual eye candy, the nest is sturdy as well. A protein in the saliva of European paper wasps is so effective in making their nests waterproof that it's been used by scientists for a biodegradable drone.

You can check out the colorful photographs below. For more of Menchetti’s science work, you can visit his website.